Back at the dawn of the motor car, there was genuinely was no replacement for displacement, as this slightly scary 1911 Fiat S76 proves. The car you see here is actually running for the first time in 100 years, after having undergone a 10-year-long restoration process.
The car nicknamed the “Turin Beast” was originally aimed to be speed record machine, a role which it more than fulfilled thanks to its 28.3-liter engine that had ~290 PS and could propel the 1,650 kg / 3,637 lbs vehicle up to 290 km/h or 180 mph.
It was never clocked that fast, though, managing to average just under 140 mph or 225 km/h within the constraints of the two run system, which requires the car to have a go in each direction then calculate the average.
This particular car was apparently dismantled after the First World War, so as not to fall into enemy hands, and in 2003 the chassis made its way to the UK, in the hands of its owner and enthusiast engineer, Duncan Pittaway – see him start the car here for the very first time!
The car is now fully operational and really rather spectacular to see in action, as you’ll find out for yourself in the video posted below.
Via Goodwood Road & Racing